The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce conducted its 2008 Member Issues Survey this past December. The survey conducted via email reached 1,146 (76%) Chamber Members and had a response rate of 10%. It uncovered a generally grim outlook on the economy for 2009 and on Members’ feelings about business for the coming year.  

“The growing uncertainty of our Members and the general business community only highlights the need for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to speak forcefully on behalf of our Members who employ tens of thousands of hard working men and women,” said Brooklyn Chamber President & CEO Carl Hum. ”The membership survey is a key piece of our agenda when we meet with our elected leaders in Washington and Albany.”  

When asked what the incoming Obama administration should include in its federal stimulus package, there was a common theme to support the middle class through funding to increase youth programs and child care for working families and certain tax benefits aimed at small businesses. 

Survey Highlights (Click here for full report in PDF format):

• 72% of respondents say the U.S. needs some form of universal health insurance coverage for its citizens
• 57% of respondents say employers should be required to contribute to the cost of their employees’ health insurance
• 40% of respondents say most current job applicants can use additional education and/or job preparation
• 26% of respondents say a majority of their workforce speaks a native language other than English

Obstacles to Growth
Each year Chamber Members rank the top obstacles to their growth:

Increased cost of providing health insurance for my employees
Percentage citing problem or severe problem:  55%
Current rank: 1
Rank in 2007: 2 (52%)
Rank in 2006: 1 (62%)
 
Fuel or energy costs (gas, diesel, electric, oil, etc.)
Percentage citing problem or severe problem: 51%
Current Rank: 2
Rank in 2007: 1 (55%)
Rank in 2006: 3 (54%)
 
Cost of general liability insurance
Percentage citing problem or severe problem: 48%
Current Rank: 3
Rank in 2007: 3 (50%)
Rank in 2006: 2 (58%)
 
Traffic/transportation problems
Percentage citing problem or severe problem: 46%
Current Rank: 4
Rank in 2007: 3 (50%)
Rank in 2006: 4 (50%)
 
Workers’ Compensation costs
Percentage citing problem or severe problem: 44%
Current Rank: 5
Rank in 2007: 7 (39%)
Rank in 2006: 5 (49%) 

Projects
Chamber Members support the following Brooklyn projects that the organization’s leadership will continue to advocate be included in any proposals put forth to the federal government: 

Working Ports in Brooklyn – Brooklyn should maintain its working ports (Brooklyn Marine Terminal/ Red Hook Container Terminal and South Brooklyn Marine Terminal).

Support: 71%
Oppose: 2%
Neutral: 16%
Don't know or N/A: 10%
 
Gowanus Tunnel – The construction of a tunnel under the Brooklyn waterfront to replace the existing elevated Gowanus Expressway.

Support: 45%
Oppose: 7%
Neutral: 28%
Don't know or N/A: 20%
 
JFK Rail Link – Creating a rail link from JFK and the LIRR stop in Jamaica Queens to lower Manhattan, provided there would be two stops in Downtown Brooklyn.

Support: 69%
Oppose: 1%
Neutral: 20%
Don't know or N/A: 10% 

Issues
Overwhelmingly, Brooklyn Chamber businesses want to “Go Green and Sustainable” with 78% of respondents saying government should provide more incentives to businesses to improve or make the switch to sustainable business and building technology. While going green appeared to be an easy decision to make, paying for transit was not as cut and dry for survey respondents. Members decided on tolls on East River Crossings and a commuter tax, but couldn’t come to a majority ruling on the proposed Mobility Tax.

NYC Public Transportation – Governor Paterson appointed a special Metropolitan Transportation Commission chaired by former MTA chief Richard Ravitch to address the massive budget deficit faced by the agency. The commission has made several recommendations that will impact the City and, in turn, the business community. Please let us know your opinion on the following:

• Tolls – Do you support the tolling of the East and Harlem river crossings if the funds raised go to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to fund the upkeep of bridges and mass transit?
  • Support: 29%
  • Oppose: 53%
  • Neutral: 9%
  • Don't know or N/A: 10%
• New Mobility Tax – This is an excise tax that would be levied on employers in the 12-county Commuter District that would be equal to one-third of one percent of wages paid and will represent a deductible expense for federal tax purposes. The mobility tax also will be imposed on self-employed individuals.
  • Support: 31%
  • Oppose: 36%
  • Neutral: 17%
  • Don't know or N/A: 17%

Commuter Tax – The commuter tax is levied on individuals who work in the five boroughs of New York City but live elsewhere. Do you support the reinstatement of this tax that was rescinded in 1999?

Support: 57%
Oppose: 23%
Neutral: 10%
Don't know or N/A: 10%